Gypsy Jazz Duo – Fiona Pears & Connor Hartley-Hall

Violinist and composer Fiona Pears, has performed and recorded internationally over the past 15 years. She has appeared everywhere from Birmingham symphony hall and the famous Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London through to Joe’s pub in New York and the very loved Donovan’s store in Okarito.

Fiona has also been a soloist with the Liverpool Philharmonic, Christchurch Symphony and Trust Waikato Symphony orchestras.
Her fiery mix of Tango and Gypsy Jazz alongside soulful ballads will keep any audience on the edge of their seats.
www.fionapears.com

Guitarist Connor Hartley-Hall grew up in Akaroa. As a teenager, he found a passion for improvisation and over the past 10 years has been performing in a myriad of settings.

An extraordinary master of the Gypsy Jazz style played by legends such as Django Reinhardt and Biréli Lagrène. Connor has made himself a name as one of the top guitarists in the country performing this style of music.

Music: Aro – Mini Release Tour

They have been working hard during lock-down and are releasing their NEW five track EP He Manu Anō, on 27 August which is an extension of their bilingual debut album Manu,  which told the tales of 10 native manu, playing on the birds characteristics and some of their significance for Māori – through a mixture of vocals, Māori rhythms, chants and instrumentation. The EP will consist of songs of the most requested birds that did not appear on their first album, and will be entirely in te reo Māori.

The duo have spent time researching the stories and sounds of each bird, and understanding their character to create upbeat waiata inspired by nature, and wholly original to Aotearoa. The kaupapa behind this project is to address identity, and to encourage people to be proud of who they are as Māori and as New Zealanders. Using the birds characteristics and Māori legends about the birds, the waiata tell a story of trying to find one’s place in the world.

The first single Kōtare is a showcase of the distinctive sound that Aro has become known for; a warm blend of pop, R&B, jazz, and taonga pūoro. The track is a jubilant guitar driven melody, inspired by the kōtare (kingfisher). The gorgeously harmonious dual vocals carry the song, Emily’s honey-voiced jazz blending with Charles’ full throated haka sound, allowing the poetic te reo Māori lyrics to truly shine. Punctuated with percussive clicks and joyful whistles, Kōtare is an uplifting and beautiful example of the energy of the manu.

OSPA’s Gig in the Garden … ARO

OSPA returns to Bob and Di’s garden for the 8th year in a row with ARO. ARO are husband and wife duo, Emily and Charles Looker (Ngapuhi) who blend stories in song that express the people, the culture, and the heart of their home country, Aotearoa New Zealand. Both talented musicians in their own right, their sound together is best described as ‘Aotearoa Pop with Jazz, RnB and Kapahaka influences’. They were married in 2016 and in 2017 they moved into a van to pursue music, travelling throughout Aotearoa. On Waitangi Day 2019 ARO released their debut album Manu, a bilingual te reo Māori and English, 10 track album transcribed from the melodies, rhythms and stories of our native birds, playing on their characteristics and some of their significance for Māori, to convey messages about life.

Please bring with you something to sit on, a picnic or money for the gourmet burgers from Onewhero Fire Force and something to drink.

Sorry, dogs are not allowed at the venue.

Radio Times

A good old-fashioned variety show

Back in the day before television, people settled down to listen to their radios, enjoying, in particular, the variety shows that featured vocal and instrumental offerings and short plays.

Recreating this format live on stage, we feature an original play called ‘An Invitation to Elsinore’. Created by senior students from Onewhero Area School’s drama class, it is a lively fusion of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.

Solitude

Solitude,  based on  a true NZ story

Written, directed and performed by DramaLab’s Martine Baanvinger

AOTNZ tour – 1 August – 24 August 2019

I’m dreaming hours down to minutes…”

In 1913 Annie enters the remote mountains of Kahurangi National Park to live a hidden life with her lover Henry Chaffey and stays there for 40 years. 40 years in exile, swallowed by the silence, enslaved by the fire.

This beautiful, touching true story is about Annie Chaffey’s love, loneliness, loss and laughter.

New Zealand musician Mark Manson has collaborated with Martine to provide a unique recorded soundscape for the production.

Nominated for Best Actress, Best Solo Performance, Best Script and winner of best Music/Sound at the Nelson Fringe Festival “…writer, director and performer, Martine Baanvinger of DramaLab is utterly compelling, humorous and breathtakingly honest as Annie.

Not only is this an interesting New Zealand story but it is told by an expert in an incredibly imaginative and touching way.”- Lisa Allen, Nelson Fringe Festival review

Badjelly the Witch

There is no story quite like Spike Milligan’s Badjelly the Witch: that nemesis of children everywhere, that evil, bag-carrying, stick-flying, screecher of doom. Loved by children and adults alike, Badjelly will be whizzing across our stage in late July and early August, joined by Tim, Rose, Lucy the cow, and many more well-known characters.

The New Zealand Guitar Quartet

Bringing an infectious energy to the stage, their music transcends borders both geographically and stylistically with performances of classical, contemporary and world music. Covering a diverse range of genres including Balkan, Brazilian, Persian, bluegrass, Celtic, Spanish and flamenco music. An Arts on Tour NZ show.

Fables at St Stephens

West Auckland Folk Band Fables produce a gentle and heartfelt indie-folk sound which could warm even the coldest of hearts. Jess Bailey’s childhood was spent on twenty-one acres of land in the outskirts of Auckland. She was taught by the Mackenzie Hills of the south Kaipara, dredged in the waters of Muriwai Beach then hung out to dry in the plum trees at home. This imagery is littered throughout the bands wistful lyrics and authentic songs. The small ensemble has shared the stage with modern folk notables Great North, The Remarkables, Chris Preistley and Nadia Reid, with performances at the home of Auckland folk, The Bunker. Jess Bailey’s velveteen voice intermingled with a collection of strings and other harmonies should find you quite at home.

The Pohutukawa Tree

Sixty-year-old widow, Aroha Mataira, is the main character. She lives with her two children, Queenie and Johnny, at Te Parenga, their ancestral land which was sold and turned into a commercial orchard. All that remains of the native bush is one Pohutukawa tree on the last plot of land owned by the all-but departed tribe. Despite whanau urging her to give up this last connection to her ancestral land to join them elsewhere, Aroha is just as determined to stay in Te Parenga.